case studies

7) Mariakerke Beach (Belgium)

The Mariakerke beach, located almost in the middle of the Belgian coast westwards of Ostend, is a dissipative beach, characterised by a low beach gradient, a surf zone with the presence of numerous spilling lines of breakers and by fine to medium sandy sediments. Storm events can cause destructive erosion and acute erosion events like those generated by the storm of 1976 can cause severe impacts. The ongoing seaward extension of the harbour of Ostend intersects the longshore tidal flow and locally disturbed the morphological equilibrium. Due to the high socio-economical, cultural, ecological and recreational value, the persistent regression of the coastline along the Flemish East Coast represents a challenge for coastal managers that are forced into continuous maintenance of the local beach. The area is macrotidal.

8) Dziwnow Spit (Poland)

In Poland the case study site will be the area of Dziwnów Spit. It is located in the western part of the Polish coast, separating the Baltic Pomeranian Bay with Kamienski Lagoon. It is a sandy spit 0.3-0.5 km wide and about 15 km long. It consists of relatively low dunes (4-10 m above sea level). Three municipalities are located on the spit: Dziwnów town, Miedzywodzie and Dziwnowek. The whole area is an important tourist resort with a 60000 people presence in the summer time. Dziwnów town is located in the narrowest part of the spit at the eastern side of the river mouth. Some buildings are located on dunes, too close to the open sea coast, so that they have to be protected by a seawall. Moreover the whole Dziwnów urban coastline is protected by groins and nourishments. At the Kaminski Lagoon coastline the urban has a low elevation and a small harbour is located there. This part of the city is very sensitive to flooding by storm surges. The area is non-tidal.

9) Kamchia-Shkorpilovtsi Beach (Bulgaria)

Main characteristics: Open beach on the Black Sea, dunes, river mouths, touristic value, non-tidal.

In Bulgaria the long straight Kamchia-Shkorpilovtsi beach is proposed as case study site. It is the longest (around 13 km) and the largest sandy beach in the coastal zone of the Black Sea, with well-developed dunes and two rivers mouths, one of which, the Kamchia river, is the biggest along the Bulgarian coast. Located in the central part of the Bulgarian coastline it is exposed to storm waves from the north, the northeast and the east, along the maximum fetches of the Black Sea basin. Issues here are a high degree of vulnerability of dunes and river mouths, the presence of preserved ecological areas and areas with recreational facilities. The area is non-tidal.